Papa’s out in the field mama’s down by the well
Grandma’s away at the market with manioc to sell.
A neighbor is watching the children
they’re playing down by the path.
An old man comes along and tells them a story
Always makes them laugh and he says:
“When you go down by the river watch out for those crocodiles.”
You see in Africa the old saying goes:

It takes a whole village to raise a child. (4X)
Ina chukua kijiji kizima kum lea m’ toto

The world is a village now and it isn’t very large.
It’s a struggle for survival families working so hard.
And who is watching the children in front of the big TV
And helping them to understand everything they see?
Who is going to sit down with them and listen for awhile?
You see in Africa the old saying goes:

It takes a whole village … etc.

Leave ‘em a dream tell ‘em a tale
Teach ‘em to read and hammer a nail.
Uncles and aunts grandparents and teachers
Big sisters big brothers neighbors shopkeepers.

It takes a whole village … etc.